Digestibility of non-starch-polysaccharide-bound sugars in triticale feed and enzyme supplements for hens, ducks and geese

The present study compared the digestibility of non-starch-polysaccharides (NSP) from a ration rich in maize and wheat (control ration) with that of a ration rich in triticale (triticale ration) in poultry. Therefore, an expe riment was conducted using each two breeds of chicks (Messa and Vedette hyb rids), ducks (Barbarie and Mulard) and geese (Landaise 1 and Landaise 2). I n addition, the question of whether supplementation with an enzyme preparat ion (Roxazyme) increases the digestibility of NSP in the triticale ration w as investigated. The basal rations were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous; on average they contained 11.3 MJ metabolizable energy per kg and 22.5% crude protein. The concentrations of NSP were similar in both rations. The type of ration as well as supplementation with enzyme did not significa ntly influence body weight development in all poultry species. The digestib ility of NSP in overall was relatively high. However, ducks and geese exhib ited slightly higher digestibility of NSP (approximately 60%) than chicks ( approximately 55%). Xylose as component of NSP was markedly less digestible than other sugars as components of NSP. On average of the three poultry sp ecies, NSP of the control ration were slightly less digestible than NSP of the triticale ration (55 versus 60%). In this respect, the most pronounced difference was observed for xylose as component of NSP. Overall, the result s were consistent for the different species and breeds. Supplementation of enzyme did not increase the digestibility of NSP in the triticale ration ex cept xylose which was significantly increased in triticale+enzyme group.